Car door



July 27, 1937. K. J. ToBlN 2,088,072

CAR DOOR Filed Nov. -12, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2' VEN To@ A/E/v/VE TH J 755m/ TTX July 27, 4 1937. K 1 TOB|N 2,088,072

CAR DOOR Filed Nov. 12, 1934 5 sheets-sheet 3 KENNETH J. TQ/A/ TTX Julyzz 1937. K. J. TOBIN 2,088,072

CARDOOR Filed Nov. 12, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 s "I FI v oI 'I N I' I \o I I ""E I i I I II@ w i 'l I. I I' l w II l I I^ lF IL I I \OI Il I l @I I I.: {o} I I I I` I I I \I I I |.\I 0I II GI S I\\9 S I I, I I :II I I I I oI @I III II I I l|| g I L w II||I| I L`, r |I IIw I I I I I II l I I IGI I :MII I I I I I\ I n IIIA n I Q Q 'is I IGI I I I I I I I I@ I II I I I I s I Il ol- I o! ',II

I I \l I d 28 s ggf 2% I Y Iv gb I W\ IIN I I I -//\/V/\/T0E- TTY K. J. TBIN CAR DOOR July 27, 1937.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12, 1954 VEN *ro/@J @SNA/5TH J 755m/ @N TTY Patented July 27, 1937 ATENT OFFECE can Doon Kenneth i. rotin, chicago, ru., assig'nor by mesne assignments, to rlthe Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 12, 1934, Serial No. 752,638

12 Claims.

This invention relates to doors for railway cars and is directed particularly to. doors for stock cars.

It is among the objects of this invention to pro-Y vide doors for stock cars which shall beconsiderably lighter in weight than the present known doors,` simpler and sturdier in construction, less expensive and easier of operation; doors which shall require less space for storage; in which rune ning repairs may be made that is, without withdrawing the car from service; wherein repairs can be made while the door is still on the car; doors which shall eiiminate a substantialramount of the fixtures 'now required; doors for stock cars which shall decrease the possibility of damage to theV stock; and which shall reduce the cost of maintenance.

With these expressed and other objects in view,

which shall become clear as the description proceeds, this invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularlypointed out an defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specication K Figure l is a fragmentary elevationof one em bodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal. section taken on line 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged elevation of the lower right hand corner of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation, showing the structure of Figure 5 as applied to a double deck stock car; Y l

Figure V'7 is a partial horizontal section taken on line 1 1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section taken on line 8 8 ofFgure 5;

Figure 9 is a vertical section taken on line 9 9 of Figure 5; and

Figure 10 is a vertical section taken on line Ill-lil of Figure 6.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures l to 4, inclusive, of the drawings the numeral I0 designates the side of a railway house car, illustrated asa stock car, and embodying a side plate l l, a side sill l2 upon which the floor l-3 issupported, front and rear door posts lll-and I5", spaced siding members I6 and side braces, one of which is indicated at Il.

The side plate, side sill and front and rear door posts define an opening i8 in the car side, which opening is adapted to be closed by a door I9 of the instant invention.

y The door i9 of the considered embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of spaced Vertical flexible members 20, the upper ends of which are secured to the depending leg 2l of the side plate. a plurality of flexible horizontally spaced members 22 secured to the vertical members 2c at their points of intersection. As indicated above, the members 2t and 22 are flexible and for this purpose it is proposed to utilize chains in their construction, as clearly illustrated in the drawings. The spacing of the horizontal members 22 in the lower zoneof the door is relatively close. In the intermediate zone of the door this spacing is` preferably increased, while in the upper zone of the door a further increasein the spacing may be resorted to. The closeness of the spacing in the lower zone of the door is desirable for the prevention of injury to livestock inasmuch as it pre'- Vents the livestock from accidentally sticking their limbsrthrough the spaces between the hori-V zontal members. In the higher zones of the door this problem does not exist and, consequently, the spacing may be increased.

The door I9 is adapted to be moved vertically in order to expose the door opening for the load? ing and unloading of livestock. To` obtain such movement of the door a guide 23 is secured to the car lll adjacent the forward edge of the door opening and a guide 24 is secured to the car adl;

jacent the rear edge of the door opening. These guides, as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, are preferably channel-shaped in section and are disposed with their webs in abutment With the front and rear door posts so as to pre sent flanges 25 and 2S disposed in spaced parallel relationship to the car side. Slidably engaged with the flanges 25 and 26 of the guides are a plurality of hook-shaped guide members 2l' and 23 secured, respectively, to the forward and rear ends of each of the horizontal members 22 of the door. Vertical movement upwardly in the instant embodiment of the invention may be had by means of'a plurality of cables 29, 39 and 3l. The cable 29 extends through eyes 32 provided ineach of the guide members 2l and the end thereof is secured to the lowermost of these guide members. The cable 29 passes over a pulley 33 lsecured to the side plate Il and is then directed Vrearwardly over pulley 3d, around pulley 35 and The door i9 embodies, additionally, 1

and the side of the car.

thence downwardly to a drum 35 secured upon the car side.

The cable Siiis secured to the eye of a collar 3l fastened to a bar 38 hereinafter referred to. From this fastening the cable t5 extends upwardly and around pulley 3Q from whence it is directed rearwardly over a pulley and thence downwardly to the 'winding drum 35.

The cable 3l extends through eyes dil provided in the rear guide members 25 and is fastened to the lowermost or such guide members. From its point of fastening the cable 3l extends upwardly and around pulley di and then downwardly to the winding drum 35.

The drum 35 is adapted to be rotated by means oi a crank 52 fastened to the drum, said crank being provided with a pivo-tally secured handle 53. The handle 53, when in ext-ended position as shown in Figure l of the drawings, is adapted to lie between the flange d@ of stop member 45 In the elevating movement of the door the crank 132 is moved clockwise until the handle 53 is disengaged from the stop member d5, whereupon said handle is swung outwardly until it extends at a right angle to the remainder of the crank member, whereupon continued clockwise movement may be imparted to the winding drum 3S without interference from the stop member. The door may be maintained in elevated position by disposing the handle d3 behind the stop member.

Means is provided for tensioning and securing the door in its lowered or Closed position. To this end there is secured to the side sill i2 by means of an angle bar i5 a plurality of abutment members ill. The lower end of each of the vertical members 2d carries a detent member 48 provided with openings through which the bar 38 extends to insure simultaneous movement of the detent members. The abutment members il are provided with depending arcuate portions t9 which are bifurcat-ed as indicated at 55 in order to receive the detent members 58. In the locking and tensioning engagement between said 'detent and abutment members engagement is effected between the cam-shaped flanges 5l provided on the detenty members and the arcuate portions of the abutment members.

To eiect this engagement between said arcuate portions and said cam flanges there may be utilized a bar 52 rotatably journaled in the guides 23 and 2d. A plurality of fingers 53 and 54 are fastened upon the bar or shaft 52 so as to rotate therewith. An actuating member 55 is fastened to one end of the shaft 52, preferably the rear end, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, for imparting rotation to said shaft. In the secured position of the door the actuating member 55 is disposed behind a pivoted catch 55, the free end of which is received behind a ange 5l provided on a bracket member 58 secured to the car. A seal (not shown) may be threaded through the flange 57 and a ange 59 provided on the catch 55. The door I9 may thus be secured in its closed position against unauthorized opening thereof.

It will be apparent that when the door is to be elevated the seal (not shown) will be removed and the actuating member 55 released from the catch 55. The member 55 will then be rotated downwardly and outwardly of the car so as-to impart rotation to the shaft 52 and effect release of the fingers 53 and 5d from the bar '38. The detent members 138 may then readily be disengaged from the abutment members lil whereupon, by actuation of the winding drum 3E, the door may be elevated. When the door has been lowered it may be tensioned and secured in lowered position by a reversal of the steps hereinabove set forth, it being apparent that as the fingers 53 and 55 force the bar 38 inwardly tcward the car the detent members i8 will pass into the bifurcations provided in the abutment members il and the engagement between the arcuate portions i9 of each of the abutment members and the cam flanges 5l of the detent members will tension the vertical members 20 of the door during the inward movement of the bar 38.

It will be apparent, moreover, in the elevating movement of the door that the guide members 27 and 28 will slide upon the franges 25 and 26 of the guides 22 and 2li and that the guide members 21 and 28 will successively engage the immediately higher guide members during this movement of the door.

A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 5 to 1U, inclusive, of the drawings. This embodiment is shown in its application to a single deck stock car in Figures 5,

7, 8 and 9 and is illustrated in its application to a double deck stock car in Figures 6 and 1G. Referring to Figure 5 of the drawings, this embodiment of the invention is found in a door which comprises a plurality of spaced vertical members 6i and a plurality of spaced horizontal members 52 secured to the vertical members at their points of intersection. As in the previous embodiment of the invention, these members Si and 62 preferably take the form of chains and the spacing of the horizontal members 52 as described hereinabove is preferably maintained. The upper ends of each of the vertical members 5l are provided with guide members 63 adapted to slidably engage a guide 54 secured to the depending leg 2| of the side plate ii. The lower ends of the vertical members 5i are provided with guide members 65 slidably associated with a guide 65 secured to the horizontal leg of the angle member 46.

The forward ends of the horizontal members 62 are secured to a vertical bar El, the upper end of which is provided with a guide member 62 carrying a roller 69 having engagement with the guide B4. The low-er end of the bar 5l is provided with a guide member 'iii slidably associated with the guide 56 and provided with a roller li engageable with said guide 65 inthe event of tilting of the bar 51 to prevent binding of said bar upon the guides 64 and 65.

The rear ends of the horizontal members 62 are fastened to the car side by securement to an angle member 'l2 which, in turn, may 'be bolted to the car side as indicated at l. It will be apparent from Figure 9 of the drawings that by 'virtue of the connection of the horizontal members 52 to the side on. the car such members are inclined from substantially the rear door post to the car side. This inclination is maintained at the rear portions of the guidesI 66 and 65 as indicated at 74, whereby in the open position of the door El] it will be disposed closely adjacent the car side.

In the. movement of the door to open position the bar 51 will be grasped and slid along the guides 64 and 5E. During this sliding movement of the bar El it will successively contact the guide members 63 and 55 secured to the upper and lower ends of the vertical members: 5i and cause the guide members' to slide along the guides. As

indicated hereinabove in the open position of the 'gageable with said bar for fastening said door door-it will be stored compactly'adjacent the car side. y '1 As in the previous embodiment of this invention means is provided. for tensioning and fastening the door in its closedpo-sition. To this end brackets such as-'l5 are fastened to the car side at the upper and lower portions thereof. These brackets: provide bearings for a shaft 'i6 jo-ulnaled therein. A plurality of brackets 'l1 are fastened upon the shaft 16, these brackets providing bearings in which a shaft 18 is; journaled.v A plurality of hook-shaped fingers 'i9 are lfastened upon the shaft 13. The intermediate bracket 'il carries `a pivotally secured actuating member B for imparting movement to the shaft 16 and through the brackets 'VI fastened to said `shaft movementis imparted to the. shaft 78.

It will be clear'from the foregoing that inasmuch as the shaft 7B may rotate `within the bearings 'Il the ngers la maybe disposed in hooked engagement with the bar El of the door 6l)y whe-n said door is brought to closed position.. -After this engagement is effected the actuating member 88 may be swung ina clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 7 of the drawings, thereupon imparting clockwise rotation to the shaft `'It and similar rotation .to the brackets Ti secured upon said shaft. lThis movement of the actuating member, consequently, will tend to move the bar El' forwardly or toward the left, as

viewed in Figure 'l of the drawings, and hence tension the horizontal member 62 of the door.

The actuating member Si) is preferably utilizedA in order to fasten the door in itsclosed position. For this purpose there is provided a lock member 8l,v carrying a vertically reciprocable pin 32. After the door has been properly xed in its closed position the` actuating member t will lie between 'the housings 8? Yand Bil carrying the pin 82, whereupon they pin may be extended through said housings and in front of the actuating member. A seal (not shown) may 'then be utilized to fasten the pin andthe lock member 8| together. i

The door illustrated in Figures 5, 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings is utilized as illustrated in Figures 6 and 10 of the drawings upon a double deck stock car. The floor of the upper deck of the car is indicated at 85. In a double deck stock car two doors are utilized, one for each of the decks. The construction of each of these doors is identical with that of the door Gil, differing therefrom only in height. No further description of these doors is consequently thought to be necessary.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifi-cations in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modications and changes be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scopey of the claim appended hereto. l

I claim:

1. In a stock car having a door opening, vertical guides secured adjacent tothe vertical margins of said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door comprising a plurality of spaced vertical flexible members, a plurality of spaced and means for moving said door upwardly.

2. In a stock car 'having a door openingver tical guides secured adjacent the vertical margins of said opening, a door for olosing'said opening, saiddoor comprising a plurality oi" spaced vertical flexible members, a plurality of spaced horizontal members secured to said vertical mem- Y bers, members secured to. the ends otsaid hori- Y,

zontal members slidably engaging saidY guides, means for .securing the upper endsof said vertical members, detent members carried by the lower ends of saidv vertical members, abutments secured to. said Vcar below said door opening and means for effecting engagement between said detent members and said abutments for locking said door in closed position. i

3. In` a stock car having a door opening, ver- .ticalguides secured adjacent the vertical margins ofsaid opening, a door for' closing said opening, said door comprising a plurality of spaced vertical iieXible members, Ya plurality of spaced horizontal members secured to said vertical members, members secured to the ends of said horizontal members slidably engaging said guides, means for securing the upper ends of said vertical members, a bar secured to the lower ends of said vertical members, detent members carried 'by said bar, abutments secured to said car below said door opening, a shaft rotatably journaled on said car, a plurality of fingers carried by said shaft and means for rotating said shaft, said ngers engaging and moving said bar to effect engagement between said detent members and said abutme-nts to tension said vertical members.

fi. In a railway car having a door opening, guides secured to said car above and below said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door Ycomprising a plurality of spaced vertical members, a plurality of flexible spaced members slecured to said vertical members and guide members secured to the ends of said vertical members slidably associated with said guides, said guides being inclined toward said car adjacent to and beyond the rear edge of said door opening,

5. In a railway car having a door opening,`

guides Vsecured vto said car above and below said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door comprising a plurality of spaced vertical members, a plurality of flexible spaced horizontal members secured to said vertical members, guide members secured yto the ends of said vertical members slidably associated with said guides, and a vertical bar slidably associated with said guides, the ends of said horizontal members being secured to said vertical bar and said car adjacent to and beyond the rear edge of said door opening.

6. In a railway car having a door opening, guides secured to said car above and below said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door comprising a plurality of spaced vertical members, a plurality of flexible spaced horizontal members secured to said vertical members, guide members secured to the ends of said vertical members slidably associated with said guide, and a vertical bar slidably associated with said guides, the ends of said horizontal members being'secured to said vertical bar and said car adjacent to and beyond the rear edge of said door opening, and means provided on said car side for engaging said vertical bar and tensioning said horizontal members in the closed position of said door.v

7. In a railway car having a door opening,

lio

guides secured to said car above and below said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door comprising a plurality of spaced flexible vertical members, a plurality of flexible spaced horizontal members secured to said vertical members, guide members secured to the ends of said vertical members slidably associated With said guides and a Vertical bar slidably associated with said guides, the ends of said horizontal members being secured to said Vertical bar and said car adjacent to and beyond the rear edge of said door opening.

8. In a railway car having a door opening, guides secured to said car above and below said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door comprising a plurality of spaced flexible vertical members, a plurality of flexible spaced Vhorizontal members secured to said vertical members, guide members secured to the ends of said vertical members slidably associated with said guides and a vertical bar slidably associated with said guides, the ends of said horizontal members being secured to said vertical bar and said car adjacent to and beyond the rear edge of said door opening, and means for tensioning said horizontal members and fastening said door in closed position.

9. In a railway car having a door opening, guides secured to said car above and below said opening, a door for closing said opening, said door comprising a plurality of spaced iiexible vertical members, a plurality of iiexible spaced horizontal members secured to said vertical members, guide members secured to the ends of said vertical members slidably associated with said guides and a vertical bar slidably associated with said guides, the ends of said horizontal members being secured to said vertical bar and said car adjacent to and beyond the rear edge of said door opening, and means for tensioning said horizontal to the ends of each of the members of one of said series slidably engaging said guides, means securing one end of each of the members of the other series to said car side adjacent said door opening, abar secured to the opposite ends of the members of said other series and means secured to said car side adjacent to said opening for engaging said bar and fastening said closure across said opening.

ll. In a stock car having an opening in a side thereof, guides secured to said carside adjacent opposed margins of said opening, a closure for said opening, said closure comprising a series of spaced sturdy vertical chains, a series o1" spaced sturdy horizontal chains, means slidably engaging said guides and secured to the chains of one of said series, means securing one end of the chains of the other of said series to said car adjacent said door opening and means for fastening the opposite end of the chains oi said other series to said Car when said closure extends across said opening.

12. A door for stock cars comprising a series of spaced Vertical chains, a series of spaced horizontal chains extending between and secured to said vertical chains, a guide member secured to each end of each of the chains of one series and a bar secured to one end of each of the chains of the other series,

KENNETH J. TOBIN. 

